Computer Science Department Hosts Video Gaming Camp

June 17, 2008

OGDEN, Utah – While some high school students spend their summer vacation playing Playstation, Wii or Xbox, 27 area high school students are learning firsthand what it takes to develop and create the next generation of video games.

Weber State University’s Department of Computer Science is hosting a weeklong gamers’ camp (June 16-20), where students work in teams to learn about the tools and code needed to create video games.“They are learning what it takes to succeed in an academic program, as well as in the industry,” said Greg Anderson, chair of WSU’s Department of Computer Science.

The computer gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years, increasing the nationwide demand for computer game developers.

During the camp, students will hear from WSU alumnus John Blackburn, who earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science and went on to become CEO of Avalanche Software, a video game developer studio he helped found. In 2005, Buena Vista Games, the software arm of The Walt Disney Company, acquired the Salt Lake City-based Avalanche Software to develop video game tie-ins for Disney’s major motion picture releases and popular television shows.

Earlier this year, the Utah State Board of Regents approved a computer science game development certificate offered at WSU. The certificate is available to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science with an emphasis in software engineering. The WSU certificate is the only one of its kind offered in the state.